Some 5,000 new students of the University of Bremen made a good start to their studies which begin in winter semester 2014/15 – with a mixture of information events, parties, and a welcoming reception held in the Theater am Goetheplatz. A new offer for freshers is the ERSTI-PORTAL [Fresher Portal]: The website contains all sorts of information to help students new to the University get off to a good start. And under www.uni-bremen.de/ersti-portal our new students can find tips on how to create a study schedule, explanations of some of the important terms and abbreviations they are likely to come across, a to-do checklist, and the contact details of key contact persons.
Among the 5.000 new undergrads, about 75% are embarking on Bachelor studies or First State Examination in Law, the remaining 25% will be studying on Master programs. For more than half of all first semester students, this will be their first university experience. Every fourth student of the University of Bremen starting in winter semester 2014/15 will be a fresher. “We have about the same amount of freshmen as in previous years”, says Stephan Determann from the Central Student Advisory Office.
The largest cohort of new students, almost 500, is enrolled on programs offered by the Faculty of Economics. This is followed by German / German Studies (all formats including Teacher Training) with 255 new enrollments, Informatics (240), and Law with 230 new students.
Infos, contacts, and “Fresher Party” during O-week
Since mid-October, several departments have been running prep courses within the context of the University’s September Academy to help students get off to a good start. The real action begins on coming Monday 6th October 2014, with the traditional orientation week, or O-week for short. Throughout O-week the different departments will be holding introductory events and lectures to inform new students about what to expect and how to organize their studies. Instructional staff and advanced students will be on hand to offer advice and information, and generally show their new students around. Several Studiengangsausschüsse (Stugen) – departmental student committees – are organizing a “Freshers‘ Party” for first semester students. And the AStA (Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss) – the students’ elected representational body – together with a number of other student groups is holding various introductory events. As an addition to the usual guided tour of the campus, the Arbeitsgruppe Handicap is arranging a special tour for physically challenged students.
Information Exchange on 9th October
From 10am till 2pm on Thursday 9th October 2014 there will be an Information Exchange (Informationsbörse) at which the University‘s most important institutions will be manning info stands in building GW2: For example, the Career Center and the Center for Foreign Languages, the International Office, the Studierwerkstatt and the Central Student Advisory Office. At the same time there will be a number of other opportunities to get information on various topics like studying abroad, university sport, and the learning platform Stud.IP.
Festive prelude to studies on 17th October
This year once again the University of Bremen is inviting all new students and their families to attend a festive prelude to studies in the Theater am Goetheplatz (Ostertorsteinweg). On Friday 17th October 2014 at 7.30pm and under the motto U’N’I, guests will be treated to a varied evening program comprising a mix of orchestra and rock music, song, dance, theater and film. Among the performers will be the soul singers, Flo Mega, and the Bremen student and slammer, Julia Engelmann. The Bremen Senator for Science, Professor Eva Quante-Brandt, will be among the guests. Later at an after-show party, those with a strong constitution will be able to revel and dance into the early hours in the Lagerhaus (Schildstraße 12-19, 28203 Bremen). Tickets can be purchased in the Mensa dining hall throughout the O-week for 2 euros (plus 5 euros for the After-Show Party).